Junkk.com promotes fun, reward-based e-practices, sharing oodles of info in objective, balanced ways. But we do have personal opinions, too! Hence this slightly ‘off of site, top of mind' blog by Junkk Male Peter. Hopefully still more ‘concerned mates’ than 'do this... or else' nannies, with critiques seen as constructive or of a more eyebrow-twitching ‘Oh, really?!' variety. Little that’s green can be viewed only in black and white.

What's that, you may ask? The chancellor's pronouncement today that the forthcoming 2p/litre increase in fuel duty is going to be postponed. Full story from the Telegraph.

"Postponing the planned increase in fuel duty is consistent with the Government's commitment to support the Bank of England in maintaining low inflation."

Hmmmm! So its all about controlling inflation? You're kidding, right? Note the key word, 'postponing'. Not canceling, abandoning, withdrawing, but simply postponing; perhaps until things quieten down a little so they can re-introduce it when all our minds are on other things?

Green MEP for the South East Dr Caroline Lucas will use her speaking time attomorrow’s Guardian Climate Change Summit to slate energy giant E.ON'ssponsorship of the high profile event promoting responsible environmentalpolicy.

She commented: “While I welcome the Guardian's efforts to promote private,public, political and campaign sector debate around climate change, andaccept that commercial backing is necessary in this instance, the decisionto allow a company like E.ON to gain a PR win by sponsoring the summit iscompletely misguided.

“E.ON is currently applying for planning permission to build the first newcoal-fired power station in Britain for 30 years at Kingsnorth in Kent. Thenew plant would emit more than 7 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphereeach year - that's as much C02 as the world's 24 lowest emitting countriescombined - and would potentially keep doing so for 50 years.”

Earlier this month, Dr Lucas was joined by Keith Allott, head of climatechange campaigns at WWF, in writing to the Guardian to ask that E.ON’scommercial backing be revoked.

She said: “This is not an issue of calling into doubt the Guardian’sunquestioned reputation for unbiased reporting – I have no doubt that theGuardian will continue to report on E.ON’s activities without fear orfavour. This is an issue of E.ON associating itself with the Guardian'ssummit as a cynical move to try to repair its damaged reputation.

"It's understandable that it should try. What is not understandable is thatthe Guardian should connive in its attempt.”.E.ON is the subject of a massive campaign involving a host of environmentalorganisations and activist groups. The Environmental Audit Committee, RoyalSociety and the Investors Group on Climate Change have also been highlycritical of the UK's preference for coal, as symbolised by Kingsnorth.

Dr Lucas will take part in an organised protest against E.ON’s involvementin the Guardian Climate Change Summit on the morning of the event. She willjoin members of the activist group GreenwashGuerillas outside London’sBusiness Design Centre to highlight the company’s crimes against theclimate.

The longstanding Green campaigner will also speak on the need to forge aheadwith environmental policy in the current economic climate, as well asoutlining the urgent need to invest in a future of fossil-fuel-freerenewable energy. She will say:

“We are facing a triple crisis – the credit crunch, the climate crisis, andthe crisis of soaring oil prices, underpinned by encroaching peak oil. Somesay that we cannot afford environmental measures. But it is precisely at atime of economic difficulty that strong measures to reduce our cripplingdependence on fossil fuels are needed most.

“What we need is a Green New Deal: a massive investment in energyefficiency, renewable energy and wider environmental transformation in theUK, could lead to the creation of thousands of new green collar jobs,addressing all three aspects of the crisis at the same time.”

Those with long memories will recall I once attended this conference, having railed in this blog about the exclusivity created by the cost of attending. And I was 'rescued' to become part of the machine by the kind support of a Tesco Director who was speaking, and invited me as his guest.

He actually did pretty well, but the main sponsor, Shell, copped it as is e.on this time, as I recall. And I wonder if Boris will be there as was Ken before?

Thing is, to what extent should, or can you critique, when the needs of your job (money, publicity, etc) pretty much suck you in to being part of the very thing you are criticising, or taking others to task for being part of.

I think it is cute indeed that e.on are the main sponsors, and that The Guardian see no problem taking their money to confer a green hue upon them with all the attendant 'it's helping the climate' hoopla, but then Ms. Lucas is there too. Even if she is using it as a means to bash her hosts from within. Interesting to post the strategy in advance.

What lies above...

This blog getting ever more extensive as I add stuff and Blogger adds features. This Nav Bar is worth a scroll down. It has a full search list of topics covered. And is... growing. Please pop across to Junkk.com (link below) too as I need the visitor numbers until I can figure out how to combine those here with the site. It is equally fun and informative, but most new stuff is currently here as it is easier to add.

Note that for any post with 'CATEGORY - [topic], it will be evolving, with (for now), most recent post last (at end), indicated by 'NEW'.

Note: My social and ad commentaries were going beyond this blog's remit, so if you are minded, may I commend (with content cautions) 'El Burro Hotay' and 'Bordello Ivory Tales', respectively, to further pursue these aspects of life, the universe and... well, stuff.